Golf ball heater appliance
AssigneeRocky Research
InventorsUwe Rockenfeller, Paul Sarkisian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The hitting distance performance of a golf ball is improved by heating the ball to an average temperature of between 30.degree. C. and 55.degree. C. during an active heating period of 30 minutes or less followed by a temperature equilibration period of 20 minutes or less. A golf ball heating appliance for carrying out the process has an upper and lower receptacle for receiving a plurality of golf balls and includes an electrical heating element capable of delivering at least 2 watts, and preferably, 4 watts of power per ball during the active heating period.
Claims31
A method for improving the driving distance of a golf ball comprising heating a golf ball having a temperature of less than 25.degree. C. to an average temperature of between 25.degree. C. and about 55.degree. C. during an active heating period of 30 minutes or less by delivering at least 2 watts of energy to said ball during the active heating period, equilibrating the temperature of said ball without active heating for 20 minutes or less, and maintaining the ball at an average temperature of between 25.degree. C. and 55.degree. C. until the ball is put into play.
A method for improving the driving distance of a golf ball having an average temperature of less than 25.degree. C. comprising heating said ball to a surface temperature of less than 75.degree. C. by delivering between 0.54 and 2.71 Btu/hr in.sup.2 to the surface of said ball during an active heating period of 30 minutes or less, equilibrating the temperature of said ball to an average temperature range of between 25.degree. C. and 55.degree. C., and maintaining said ball at said average temperature range until it is to be played.
An apparatus for heating a plurality of golf balls comprising a thermally conductive receptacle having a plurality of ball receiving cavities and one or more heaters cooperating therewith capable of delivering at least about 0.54 Btu/hr in.sup.2 of golf ball surface for each of said plurality of golf balls in each of said cavities.
A golf ball heating appliance comprising:
- a lower and an upper receptacle each having the same number of a plurality of substantially identical semi-spherical cavities each cavity for receiving one of a plurality of golf balls, wherein said cavities in said upper receptacle are opposite and facing said cavities in said lower receptacle, and wherein each of said semi-spherical cavities are dimensioned to make physical contact with at least a major portion of the exterior surface of a golf ball, and wherein said opposite and facing cavities form a spherical cavity when said apparatus is closed, said upper and lower receptacles comprising a thermally conductive material having a conductivity capable of delivering at least 0.54 Btu/hr in.sup.2 to a golf ball in each of said cavities, and
- one or more resistive heater elements in thermal contact with said upper and/or said lower receptacle, said heater element having a capability of supplying at least 2 watts per golf ball, and wherein said one or more heater elements and said upper and lower receptacles are capable of heating said plurality of golf balls from ambient temperature of about 4.degree. C. or more to an average temperature of at least 25.degree. C. in 30 minutes or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.